The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses Tuesday morning when a container ship crashed into it. The ship appears to have lost power twice and could not change its bearing. Once it hit the pylon, the entire structure collapsed unto itself.
The accident happened in the middle of the night, meaning only a few vehicles were on the bridge. First responders recovered some victims, but not all.
Another angle of cargo ship slamming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge extends over the Patapsco River and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor. It is an essential link of Interstate-695, or the Baltimore Beltway. pic.twitter.com/CLH98KFT3N
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 26, 2024
Officials say sonar indicated that several vehicles were in the water, where the temperature was about 47 degrees.
Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said two people had been rescued following the collapse. One was hospitalized and one was not. At least six others are still believed to be in the water. All eight were a part of a construction crew that was filling potholes.
The container ship that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge has blocked the exit for all ships coming in and out of Baltimore Harbor. It took just seconds to cripple a major transport hub, which may remain closed for years. pic.twitter.com/mNs6U3r1RL
— Hernan Cortes (@CyberPunkCortes) March 26, 2024
The destruction of the bridge will have severe repercussions on the Eastern Seaboard’s trade. The tunnel nearby is unable to accept large trucks with hazmat materials, making the port likely inoperable for a while. The Baltimore Sun says:
Before the collision, the ship’s crew notified authorities that the vessel had lost power. That “mayday” allowed Maryland Transportation Authority Police on the highway above to prevent many cars from driving onto the bridge just before the catastrophe.
“These people are heroes,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a news conference Tuesday morning. “They saved lives last night.”
The destruction of a bridge named after the Star Spangled Banner’s writer is highly symbolic of America’s infrastructure decline. An investigation is likely already underway to determine the culpability.
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